Howard Backen-designed Meadowood Spa 'reflects and respects' Napa Valley landscape
Howard Backen and a team from Saulsalito, California-based Backen, Gillam and Kroeger Architects have designed a new 14,000sq ft (1,300sq m), all-suite spa spa for Meadowood Napa Valley, due to open in Q4 2015, with interior design by Leslie Hemmings from the same firm.
Settled on a private estate in Napa Valley surrounded by a 250-acre valley, Meadowood includes 85 guestrooms, suites and cottages, along with two championship croquet lawns, seven tennis courts, a nine-hole walking golf course, golf studio and driving range, hiking trails, two swimming pools, wine experiences, and a Michelin three-star restaurant.
This is not Backen's first involvement with Meadowood; he and his team had also designed the property's Michelin 3-star establishment, The Restaurant at Meadowood, as well as the property's guest rooms.
The eight treatment suites at the new spa will each offer leafy, forested views, and the spa menu is designed to delve deeper into guests’ overall wellness, director of spa and wellness Michael Conte told CLADglobal .
“The style of architecture reflects and respects the landscape; simple, rustic structures with a strong connection to everything beyond the building itself,” said Conte.
Spa consultants Nancy Nemer of Red Cashew and Anni Hood of Wellness Business Consultancy are working on the project, and the spa will be operated in-house by Meadowood.
“The goal for the new Meadowood Spa was to create a premiere spa where our guests could relax and feel pampered in Meadowood’s natural surroundings, while enjoying the core foundation of spa therapy that is rooted in wellbeing,” said Conte.
Product houses include Aromatherapy Associates, Luzern, organic vegan skincare line Gylcelene, and vine- and grape-based skincare line Caudalie.
“It was important for us to not only find product lines with the best ingredients, but that also had a strong sense of place to reflect our beautiful surroundings,” said Conte.
Services will begin with a lifestyle consultation with a spa therapist – all of whom are trained in wellness coaching – to create a curated treatment plan and to understand the guest’s desired outcome of treatments.
“Our therapists are going to be taking a personal interest in our guests’ overall well-being,” said Conte. “The overarching spa experience will be a blended harmony of therapy, relaxation and education, while offering a body, mind and spirit connection.”
While Meadowood has had a spa in the past, dubbed The Health Spa, it was “more of a modest spa,” said Conte, with a combination of treatment rooms, sauna and steamrooms, exercise facilities and yoga and fitness class rooms.
“Ultimately, once the new Meadowood Spa opens, parts of The Health Spa will be remodelled and the building will be dedicated solely to fitness,” said Conte.
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